Player Watch 23. Lance Franklin

[eldorado]

I am mean spirited enough to be delighted that Sydney failed to win a premiership whilst he was there and we went on to win two more.
Karma.

I join you whole-heartedly in your mean-spiritedness.

Just somebody who used to play for us, and was complicit with the Swans and Pickering in us getting shafted.

He got his millions, which is what he wanted. Swans got no flags, lost their COLA, so **** those campaigners...

 

[eldorado]

Thanks Bud.
Enjoy those Swans premiership reunions

Think of all those joyous 'runner-up' reunions, though...

 

[hk89]

Congratulations to buddy on an amazing career. I was gutted when he left, but looking back if he was going to leave, the way things unfolded from a Hawthorn point of view probably couldn't have been better from the "jilted lover" perspective. No flags for Buddy, beat Buddy's team like a circus monkey in a GF to go back to back shortly after he left. He had more games and goals at Hawthorn. Personally I think they let him bulk up too much, and that made him a less exciting player, as he lost the maneuverability that was a big part of the excitement machine. At Hawthorn he was very light bodied for a coleman winning key forward, and that is partly what made him so special. There are probably players you'd have ahead of him as greatest forward of all time, but Buddy was very much unique, and when at his best at Hawthorn I don't think I'd have paid to see any of those all time greats ahead of Buddy, such was the excitement he created on the ground.

Hope he enjoys his retirement, and the rest of his life. Watching him play for us certainly added to my enjoyment of life!

 

[MooreTreloar]

I was fortunate enough to be at the MCG to see 3 of Buddy’s greatest goals live.

I was travelling past the G on a Friday night in 2010 when I decided to duck in for a quarter to see how the game was going. I stood behind the goals at the Punt Rd end a few minutes before that famous goal against Essendon.

I was at the Preliminary Final in 2011 when he kicked that absolute cracker from the boundary late in the final quarter. My initial reaction was wow! Then I had my head in my hands thinking “as great a goal as it was I’ll forever associate it with it being the goal that lost us the game and I’d have to see it replayed forever). Thankfully Collingwood won and I can now watch that highlight and not feel sad. (The less said about the Grand Final the following week the better).

I was also at the G in 2013 that Sunday afternoon he hurdled over a Collingwood player to launch a long bomb. Another absolute pearler.

Thanks for the memories Lance.

 

[QuietB]

I join you whole-heartedly in your mean-spiritedness.

Just some body who used to play for us, and was complicit with the Swans and Pickering in us getting shafted.

He got his millions, which is what he wanted. Swans got no flags, lost their COLA, so * those campaigners...

Buddy leaving helped the Hawks. His compo pick became McEvoy and we got to keep every single other player with the cap space he freed up.

 

[The hands of stone]

My favourite goal of his is a bit less obvious and not as brilliant as his others
Last quarter of the 08 GF . Cats are pressing within 15 pts .

Bud gets seperation on Scarlett ( no mean feat ) wheels around from 45 , as smooth and easy as you like drills the goal . Knew it was game over then .

His performance in the QF was as dominant as you'll see . Had everything .

Champion of the game but very glad his decision to leave cost him some flags .

 

[robiecampbellbrown]

Generational player, my favorite at hawthorn.

gutted when he left

furious when I found out how, and the compensation. Yes we got McEvoy but should have had picks 1 and 2

 

[MasterSamurai]

Absolutely champion if ever there was one! That hurdle goal is ridiculous!

 

[Dewnior]

I know this is rough, but I'll forever remember Bud as a dual Hawk premiership star who walked away from another 2 flags.

 

[Suntory Boss Coffee]

I join you whole-heartedly in your mean-spiritedness.

Just some body who used to play for us, and was complicit with the Swans and Pickering in us getting shafted.

He got his millions, which is what he wanted. Swans got no flags, lost their COLA, so * those campaigners...

Jesus some supporters on this board need to get a grip and move on.

If your partner lived interstate and you had the opportunity to move, would you?
If you got hounded every day by media (and Police) and had an opportunity to move, would you?
If your coach stalked you across the Pacific Ocean trying to convince you to stay and you had the opportunity to move, would you?

The older I get. The more I understand Buddy's move.

And PS. We offered him millions as well. 5 of them over 5 years.

 

[eldorado]

Jesus some supporters on this board need to get a grip and move on.

If your partner lived interstate and you had the opportunity to move, would you?
If you got hounded every day by media (and Police) and had an opportunity to move, would you?
If your coach stalked you across the Pacific Ocean trying to convince you to stay and you had the opportunity to move, would you?

The older I get. The more I understand Buddy's move.

And PS. We offered him millions as well. 5 of them over 5 years.

Good for you, champ..

I support the Hawks, not Buddy

 

[Endorphin Machine]

A privilege to watch, especially in 2008.

 

[Suntory Boss Coffee]

Good for you, champ..

I support the Hawks, not Buddy

Hit a nerve did I muscles?

I support the Hawks too. It seems I have a more modern view of the sport than others..

 

[eldorado]

Hit a nerve did I muscles?

I support the Hawks too. It seems I have a more modern view of the sport than others..

I don't think I've told anyone here how they should feel...but you jump in quoting me, presuming to tell me that I need to 'get a grip'...I think I responded quite appropriately to someone presuming to tell me how wrong my feelings are.

Muscles', eh? Good one...

 

[The Chad and I]

Buddy will always be ours.
Going to Sydney is like Ronaldo playing in Saudi Arabia - retirement check.

 

[TylerDurden]

Best I've seen.

 

[TylerDurden]

Buddy will always be ours.
Going to Sydney is like Ronaldo playing in Saudi Arabia - retirement check.

Never won a flag there. That's all that matters.

 

[Mercy Seat]

I know it’s a small thing, but having Clarko in his announcement Insta post was at least a nice nod to his time with us.

 

[fpm84]

Hated him when he played for you the same way you hated our champs. What a rivalry we had with so many future (and current) HOFers with two future Legends at the top of the tree - Buddy and Gaz.

I was there when he kicked that hurdle goal v Pies, probably the best goal I’ve ever seen live.

I’m sure you guys have some mixed feelings towards him the same way we did with Gaz (though many of those feelings subsided with him finishing his career with us), but you are so privileged to have seen him achieve so much in a Hawks guernsey.

All the best for the rest of the season.

 

[Buckemenico]

I was fortunate enough to be at the MCG to see 3 of Buddy’s greatest goals live.

I was travelling past the G on a Friday night in 2010 when I decided to duck in for a quarter to see how the game was going. I stood behind the goals at the Punt Rd end a few minutes before that famous goal against Essendon.

I was at the Preliminary Final in 2011 when he kicked that absolute cracker from the boundary late in the final quarter. My initial reaction was wow! Then I had my head in my hands thinking “as great a goal as it was I’ll forever associate it with it being the goal that lost us the game and I’d have to see it replayed forever). Thankfully Collingwood won and I can now watch that highlight and not feel sad. (The less said about the Grand Final the following week the better).

I was also at the G in 2013 that Sunday afternoon he hurdled over a Collingwood player to launch a long bomb. Another absolute pearler.

Thanks for the memories Lance.

I saw those 3, as well as his 7th goal against Adelaide in that elimination final at docklands (roof was open!) and all his goals in the GFs.
Will never forget him.

 

[Mercy Seat]

Some great highlights currently being posted on the hawks socials.

 

[Steven Tyler]

I know it’s a small thing, but having Clarko in his announcement Insta post was at least a nice nod to his time with us.

Clarko should’ve had a Swans AND Hawks scarf on that night
The night was about Buddy kicking 1000 goals, most of which came as a Hawthorn player!

 

[Billyc]

Some miserable people on here

What were the greatest Buddy highlights? For me:

1. 2007 Elimination Final v Adelaide. Not just the amazing winning goal but his entire last quarter. The commentator nailed it when he said Buddy hadn’t just arrived, he kicked the door down. It was true for the young hawks side too.

2. 2008 Qualifying final v Bulldogs. Kicked 8 on Brian Lake

Brian Lake

Age

42

Ht

195cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.7

4star

K

9.4

4star

HB

5.3

4star

M

6.5

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

163.0

3star

No current season stats available

D

4.6

1star

K

2.6

1star

HB

2.0

2star

M

1.0

1star

T

0.6

3star

and almost each were unstoppable and extraordinary. I think it was his best ever game given the opposition and the occasion.

3. Thirteeeeeeen v North. So much fun. A procession

4. That game v Essendon in 2010 with the famous Hooker chase and the forgotten goal before it with McVeigh giving hopeless chase

5. 2008 - kicking the ton. The last time - probably ever.


Seriously what a player. A joy to watch

 

[BobHawk]

There was a certain mystique about Franklin in the early days. It was a big part of him. That and his freakish ability made him very special. His emergence unfolded like a mythical journey. Could light up the MCG like no other. I think that light was the joy of fans seeing what they came to see. It was real. They saw it and could talk about it. Remember going to games and there was always an air of anticipation around the ground. He rarely let us down.

Still, it seems like a lifetime ago. Seemed to become a very different player and person after he joined the Swans. The magic wasn't really there anymore. Was it all that money? Suspect it was that and he got mainstreamed by Sydney. Awful city. Always lacked character for mine. And so it was...

 

[Stottzy]

That 2008 season was one of the greatest seasons I've seen a player play. 113 goals and 88 behinds in a defensive, pro flooding era was incredible! Could have surpassed Lethal for GOAT talk had he stayed.